A team many projected to be the next dynasty of English football — based on their young core — has hit a traumatic road block, claiming eight points from a potential 21, whilst sitting in the bottom half of the table. Three league losses in seven matches equals the Blues’ tally from last season, whilst only Sunderland (14) has conceded more goals thus far, illustrating the club’s current rut, and the stark contrast to your ordinary Jose Mourinho side, renowned for power and defensive solidity.
The brash pre-match comments, willingness to focus on other game-defining moments opposed to errors his players commit, or even challenging the officials that we’re accustomed to, has been replaced with a man who appears as fatigued as his players. For Mourinho, this is unusual — both in terms of behavior, and results, as this is the worst start to a league campaign in his managerial career.
Nevertheless, Chelsea’s fall from grace is equally developing into standard protocol for a defending Premier League champion. No champion has successfully retained the league since Manchester United in 2008-2009, which may tip many to highlight the league’s competitiveness, but it has more to do with failure to improve a title-winning side.
Since Dimitar Berbatov’s move to United on deadline day in 2008, no reigning champion made the required signings to push amongst Europe’s elite. Mourinho is now guilty of doing the same, as the glaring issues in midfield, and fragility at the heart of defence were areas of concern during Chelsea’s run-in.
This is not to say the Portuguese manager didn’t improve on last year’s squad as a whole, as the arrival of Radamel Falcao and Asmir Begovic are improvements to the departing Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. Likewise, Pedro Rodriguez is a two-footed winger that offers a direct threat behind the opposition’s defence.
Still, Chelsea’s evolution relied on bolstering their midfield and defence, and the unsuccessful late attempts for Paul Pogba and John Stones left the Blues amongst stagnation. A late pre-season following an excruciating title-winning season — where Mourinho was reluctant to rotate his squad — combined with tough fixture list to start the season also play a factor, handing Mourinho possibly the biggest task of his career.
The loss of form from several key players in the squad is evident, but shockingly, Mourinho hasn’t attempted to deviate away from Chelsea’s expansive style that has looked clueless in the final third, and constantly overrun on the opposing end. Once proud on possessing the best midfield and defence in the league, Mourinho’s men have been exposed in these areas on a weekly basis.
Branislav Ivanovic has been culpable for several goals conceded this season, as the lack of adequate protection from the wide players leaves the Serbian susceptible against pacy wingers. Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas’ poor form forces Nemanja Matic to cover ample space in midfield, thus preventing the Serbian from competently shielding the back four.
These are the main issues on the pitch, and though Chelsea were unable to acquire the personnel to fill these positions, stylistically, it’s difficult to understand why Mourinho hasn’t attempted to rectify the areas of vulnerability. Since his return to the club, the Portuguese manager’s previous poor run of form — his first season following defeat at Sundarland, and last year’s loss at Spurs — forced him into extreme pragmatism, a common theme Mourinho implements during the second half of the season.
“We are going in one direction and the right direction, but it is quite frustrating. Football is about getting results and it’s quite frustrating as we may have to take a step back in order to be more consistent at the back,” said Mourinho following Chelsea’s 2013/2014 Capital One Cup exit to Sunderland.
“It’s something I don’t want to do, to play more counter-attacking, but I’m giving it serious thought. If I want to win 1-0 I think I can as I think it is one of the easiest things in football. It is not so difficult, as you don’t give players the chance to express themselves.”
Chelsea was heavily criticized for their performances in the second half of last season — for most of his managerial career skeptics have ridiculed his caution – but it typically illustrated a successful Mourinho season — start the season firing on all cylinders, and maintain the gap with caution at the turn of the year. This, however, is a totally different challenge in itself.
Where profligacy upfront troubled Chelsea in the past, now it’s a feeble midfield and an aging back-line that’s currently responsible for the Blues’ poor form. Though Chelsea snapped their win-less streak with victories against a limited Maccabi Tel-Aviv side and rivals Arsenal, Mourinho’s men were lethargic on their travels to Newcastle and FC Porto, further handing the Portuguese manager fuel to play reactive.
Mourinho, in particular, is aware that results come first, but at the moment, the Blues are relying on moments of individual brilliance for goals, and committing basic defensive errors in their box to concede — the ideal recipe for disaster. Perhaps injecting youth into the XI could raise performance and offer an element of unpredictability, but with a title challenge still possible, it’s unlikely Mourinho will abandon his under-performing first team players.
Ultimately, lack of competition and summer signings must see Chelsea revert to the approach that’s associated with the club, and Mourinho’s biggest triumphs. Some of the best teams in the world may defend higher up the pitch, and press their opponent into their half, but this Chelsea side possess to many weak areas that can easily be exploited.
A deeper block may lean Mourinho to reintroduce club captain, John Terry — a fine defender that reads the game superbly and leads by example — back into the XI, whereas a switch to a 4-3-3 would offer an extra body in midfield to aid Matic and Fabregas. The possibility of conceding space between the lines or the midfield being overrun decreases with improved organization and a deep back-line, and in the past, Chelsea showcased their ability to thrive in an unadventurous, pragmatic setup.
Stylistically, the attackers also suit a counter-attacking game, as speedy direct dribblers in Willian, Eden Hazard and Pedro can pose a threat to any side if space is awarded. Likewise, Diego Costa proved at Atletico Madrid that he’s the ideal counterattacking forward that works the channels exceptionally well, and combines his pace and power to fluster recovering defenders.
Mourinho’s commitment to stay at the club for the long-term, combined with the abundance of technically gifted players could be the reason behind an expansive set-up — his first spell at the club was filled with a powerful XI — but it’s currently tarnishing a philosophy that thrives on defensive structure, and attention to detail.
Chelsea’s defensive solidity was a key component to last year’s success, and it’s vital that Mourinho and his players find a solution sooner rather than later. A second stint at Stamford Bridge welcomed back a happy Mourinho, seeking longevity and stability, but he must stick to what he knows best to fulfill that goal.
